Q&A with Celeste Surreira: The Importance of Mentorship in Nursing

Content

Image

Celeste Surreira.

Celeste Surreira, DNP, FNP‑BC, FNP‑C, CNL, CEN, clinical associate professor and director of undergraduate programs at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing (EMCON), is being honored this year with two UMass ADVANCE awards: the Equitable Practices in Collaboration (EPiC) Award as a member of EMCON's Inclusive Care & Ethical Practice Simulation Group and the Faculty Peer Mentoring Award.

The EPiC Award recognizes faculty teams that advance effective, equitable collaboration practices at UMass Amherst. Surreira was nominated for the Faculty Peer Mentoring Award by multiple colleagues, which recognizes outstanding peer mentoring.

"It is clear that the work you are doing makes an enormous difference to the success of your colleagues and has made the university a more inclusive and equitable place," the UMass ADVANCE director and executive director wrote to Surreira in her award letter.

Surreira will receive $250 for her individual award and the EMCON research team will receive $500 to continue their work. She and fellow UMass ADVANCE award winners will be honored during the UMass ADVANCE Annual Distinguished Lecture and Awards Luncheon on April 17.

Mentoring newer and more novice faculty is something Surreira cares deeply about. Helping to develop confident, capable leaders is central to her role as a leader in healthcare herself. Learn more about Surreira and her nursing mentorship journey in the Q&A below.

Get to Know Celeste Surreira

What does receiving this UMass ADVANCE award mean to you?
Celeste Surreira: This recognition is deeply meaningful because it reflects something I value at the core of my work. Mentorship is not an added role—it is central to how I approach teaching, leadership, and nursing. I see this award not only as a personal honor but as a reflection of the importance of mentorship in our profession and in academia. It reinforces my commitment to continue supporting others, fostering growth, and contributing to a culture where mentorship is recognized as essential to both individual and collective success.

What does mentorship mean to you?
CS: Mentorship, to me, is a shared commitment to growth. It is not about telling someone what to do, but about walking alongside them as they develop their own voice, judgment, and confidence. I see mentorship as creating a space where individuals feel seen, supported, and challenged—where they are encouraged to think deeply, ask questions, and stretch beyond what feels comfortable. At its core, mentorship is about helping someone become who they are capable of becoming, not who we think they should be.

How does mentorship show up in your role as a nurse leader and educator?
CS: Mentorship is woven into everything I do. I try to model the kind of leadership I believe in—grounded, collaborative, and focused on purpose. Whether with students or colleagues, mentorship is about building confidence while also building competence. As an educator, it means being fully present with students—learning their names, understanding their stories, and creating an environment where they feel that they belong. It also means holding high standards while supporting students in reaching those standards, because nursing requires both compassion and precision. As a leader, mentorship extends to faculty and colleagues. I focus on developing others’ strengths, supporting new educators as they transition into academia, and creating opportunities for growth and leadership.

"When we mentor well, we are shaping how future nurses think, act, and care for patients. That ripple effect is what makes mentorship so meaningful to me."

—Celeste Surreira, 2026 UMass ADVANCE Faculty Peer Mentoring Award recipient

What has shaped your approach to mentorship?
CS: My own journey has shaped it profoundly. I began my education without speaking English and experienced what it feels like to be unseen and uncertain. Over time, I encountered individuals who invested in me, challenged me, and believed in my potential before I fully saw it myself. That experience stayed with me. I carry that forward by being intentional about ensuring that every student and colleague feels acknowledged and valued. I also bring my clinical background into mentorship—after decades in emergency, trauma, and critical care, I understand how essential strong clinical judgment is. Mentorship, for me, is always connected to preparing others to provide safe, high-quality care in increasingly complex environments.

Image

Celeste Surreira.

What do you find most meaningful about mentoring others?
CS: What I find most meaningful is witnessing growth—seeing someone move from uncertainty to clarity, from hesitation to confidence. There is something incredibly powerful about watching individuals realize what they are capable of and then carry that forward into their practice. In nursing, that impact extends beyond the individual. When we mentor well, we are shaping how future nurses think, act, and care for patients. That ripple effect is what makes mentorship so meaningful to me.

What advice would you give to others who want to be strong mentors?
CS: Start by truly seeing the person in front of you. Take the time to understand their strengths, their challenges, and what drives them. Hold high expectations, but pair those expectations with support and belief in their ability to grow. Also, remain open to learning for yourself. Mentorship is not one‑directional. Some of the most meaningful insights come from those we mentor. If we approach mentorship with humility and curiosity, it becomes a shared journey rather than a hierarchical one.